Gov. Steve Sisolak on Monday declared a state of emergency as the Caldor Fire reached the edge of the Tahoe Basin.
The fire hasn’t yet crossed the California border into Nevada but Sisolak said fire officials are anticipating it will in the coming days.
He said the state of emergency ensures that state, local and federal resources will be available to fight the fire.
It also grants Douglas County the authority to compel residents to evacuate from all areas in the stricken or threatened areas in that county.
Since the fire started in El Dorado County August 14, it has grown to more than 175,000 acres and burned more than 600 structures, threatening lives and property or thousands of people. Officials put out a mandatory evacuation notice for South Lake Tahoe earlier Monday.
His emergency declaration says that by noon Monday, evacuees began arriving at shelters in Douglas County and Carson City.
“We will continue to use all our available resources to fight this fire and assist those in need,” he said.
Sisolak said that is already creating a shortage of resources to help those evacuees.
He directed all agencies of the state to supplement and assist the efforts of all political subdivisions impacted by the situation to save lives, protect property and protect the safety of Nevadans.
